All Blacks Scrumhalf Signs Three-Year Deal With European Club

All Blacks scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow has joined Chiefs teammate Aaron Cruden and Blues prop Charlie Faumuina in signing with a French club for next season.

Kerr-Barlow will join the table-topping La Rochelle on a three-year contract at the end of this year.

“Over the past couple of months I’ve thought long and hard about going overseas,” Kerr-Barlow said in a statement.

“I had really good contact with the Chiefs and the All Blacks throughout the process, but ultimately the opportunity to play rugby with La Rochelle and experience the French culture with my family was the right decision for me.”

His Chiefs teammate Cruden will join Montpellier at the end of the season, while tighthead prop Charlie Faumuina is joining Toulouse.

The Chiefs have also lost James Lowe to European rugby next year with the winger, who was on the fringes of All Blacks selection, joining Irish side Leinster for three years.